Multi-uniform and variable pitch escapement mechanism



Dec. 28, 1965 L. CETRAN ETAL MULTI-UNIFOHM AND VARIABLE PITCHESCAPEMEN'I MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 17, 1965INVENTORS 1 1965 L. CETRAN ETAL MULTI-UNIFORM AND VARIABLE PITCHESCAPEMENT MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 17. 1965INVENTORS LOUIS CETRAN KENNETH R. FRECHETTE United States Patent3,225,886 MULTI-UNIFORM AND VARIABLE PITCH ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM LouisCetran, Newington, and Kenneth R. Frechette, Bristol, Conn., assignors,by mesne assignments, to Royal Typewriter Company, Inc., New York, N.Y.,a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 252,113,Jan. 17, 1963. This application Mar. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 446,462

13 Claims. (Cl. 197-84) This is a continuation of application Serial No.252,113, filed January 17, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to escapement mechanisms fortypewriters or like machines of the bar or matrix type; moreparticularly it relates to an escapement mechanism characterized byapparatus for selectively conditioning said escapement mechanism toeffect uniform incremental motion of a carriage controlled therebythrough any one of several distances or to effect variable incrementalmotion of a carriage controlled thereby through variable distancesrelated to the characters to be printed; and specifically it relates toa multiuniform and variable pitch escapement mechanism operable toeffect controlled motion through selected uniform distances or throughvariable distances in accordance respectively with the spacing requiredfor uniform width characters or with the spacing required for variablewidth characters.

One of the salient features of matrix typewriting machines resides inthe fact that their type matrices are removably mounted so as to permitchanging one matrix for another having different style type. However anattendant shortcoming resides in the fact that the width of the type,whatever the type style, must always be the same, as the matrix carriagecan only escape through a fixed uniform distance.

With the present invention type matrices of different style type as wellas of different widths may be interchanged as applicants novelescapement is selectively conditionable in accordance with the width ofthe type on the matrix whereby after a printing operation the matrixcarriage will partake of a movement corresponding to the width of typeon the matrix. The salient feature of the invention therefore resides inthe fact that matrix carriage movement is preconditionable to effectincremental movement in accordance with the width of characters on aselected type matrix be they of uniform width or variable Width.

Broadly, the invention may be embodied in any proportional spacingtypewriter. Hence, although the present invention is particularly suitedto matrix typewriting machines, it is to be understood that it isequally applicable to machines which employ a plurality of individuallyoperable type bars.

Insofar as applicants are aware no prior art proportional spacingmachine has heretofore taught or contemplated an escapement mechanismwhich is variable or preconditionable at the will of an operator toprovide mult'i-uniform pitch escapements and variable pitch escapementsof a controlled device.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is in the provision of aselectively variable escapement mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a proportional escapementmechanism conditionable at the will of an operator to effect differentuniform pitch movements of a controlled device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an escapement mechanismadapted to effect either proportional or variable width incrementalmotion or selectively different uniform width incremental motions.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of mechanismfor preconditioning an escapement mechanism to partake of any one ofseveral desired movements.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a fast acting,low cost and reliable escapement mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of a novelcarriage drive whereby constant velocity carriage movement in tabulatingdirection is achieved.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which like referencenumerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the variable pitch escapementmechanism of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1showing the orientation of the universal stop displacer or unsetterlever relative to the interposers and the connection of the escapementmechanism to a type matrix carriage;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the carriage return initiating brakeelement of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 4-6 are active views of the pitch selector;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the interposer mountingstructure;

FIGURE 8 is an active view showing the latching action of the interposerstructure.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding elements throughout the several viewsthere is shown in FIGURE 1 an escapement member or wheel 10 whichsupports about its axis an annular array of serially positioned stopmembers 12 that are spaced at arcuate intervals corresponding tocharacter width units. The wheel is urged in the direction of arrow 11to effect escapement of a carriage to the extent permitted by the numberof serially positioned stop members 12 displaced from in front of anormally stationary stop 13. The escapement wheel 10 may be geared to acarriage rack as described in Patent Nos. 3,018,870 and 3,045,798, or itmay be coupled as shown in FIGURE 2 to a screw 14 journalledtransversely of the typewriter frame 15 and urged in letter feed andtabulating direction.

A type matrix carriage and positioning mechanism generally designated byreference numeral 16 is shown operatively coupled for movement axiallyof and relative to the screw when the latter is permitted to rotate. Atype matrix 17 is shown mounted on a shaft 18 which is axially androtatably positionable to present a selected character opposite aprinting point. As will be understood by those conversant with matrixmachines, the depression of a key produces a code which is translated inthe positioning mechanism 16 into axial and rotative coordinate movementof shaft 18.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the mechanism for yieldably rotatably urging thescrew in letter feed and tabulating directions and for positivelyrotating it in carriage return direction comprises a letterfeed-tabulating drive pulley 19 which is freely mounted on a stub shaft20 secured to the machine frame. The pulley is provided with an annularhub 21 which extends toward an annular hub 22 of a gear 23 which is alsofreely mounted on stub shaft 20. A coil spring 24 whose inner coildiameter is less than the diameter of the pulley and gear hubs surroundsboth hubs whereby gear 23 is yieldably coupled to the drive pulley 19.

A carriage return drive pulley 25 is freely mounted on and adjacent theend of the screw 14 and a carriage return drive gear 26 is fixedlysecured to the drive screw 14. Both the carriage return drive pulley 25and the carriage return gear 26 are provided with annular hubs 25 and26' which extend toward one another. A wrap spring 27 whose inner coildiameter is greater than the diameter of the hubs surrounds both hubs.One end of the wrap spring is secured to the drive pulley 25 while theother end is normally free. Both drive pulleys are adapted to becontinuously driven by a motor driven belt 28. Assuming that the pulleysare driven in the counterclockwise direction, it will be appreciatedthat carriage return pulley 25 and the spring 27 coupled thereto willfreely rotate relative to the hub of gear 26. Hence no motion can betransmitted to screw shaft 14. The counterclockwise rotation of tabpulley 19 however will be transmitted through spring 24 to tab gear 23which is in mesh with carriage return gear 26 thereby tending to drivethe latter in a clockwise direction; and since it is secured to thescrew 14 the latter will turn clockwise to the extent permitted by theescapement wheel it being understood that When the escapement is in theposition of FIGURE 1 the tab pulley hub 21 will slip within the coilspring 24 until the escapement is released. To effect carriage returnmovement a friction shoe 29, shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, carried onan arm 30 secured to a shaft 31, is located opposite the free end ofspring 27. When a carriage return or tabulating function is called byassociated mechanisms not part of the present invention, a push link 32is operable to retract the stationary stop 13 to permit unrestrictedrotation of the screw in a counterclockwise or carriage return directionor in a clockwise or tabulating direction respectively. Also in responseto the initiation of a carriage return shaft 31 is operatively rockedclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 3 thereby urging the shoe 29 intoengagement with the free end of spring 27 causing the latter to wrap andcouple pulley 25 to gear 26 thereby to drive screw 14 counterclockwise.The drive transmitted by gear 26 to gear 23 will turn the latter in aclockwise direction which tends to unwind the spring 24 whereby its hubwill slip within spring 24. As will be well understood in the artinitiation of a tabulating or carriage return function will latch thestationary stop 13 in retracted position until the carriage reaches atabular or margin stop respectively. Also as will be understood in theart, the carriage function will maintain shaft 31 latched, therebymaintaining the carriage return clutch engaged until the carriagereaches a margin stop. Even margins are accommodated by mechanism suchas described in Patent No. 3,045,798.

It will be noted from the above that the screw 14 is driven or rotatedin both the carriage return and letter feed-tabulating direction by thesame motive source thereby eliminating the necessity for a spring motorto drive the screw in letter feed-tabulating direction. This arrangementprovides uniform velocity movement of the carriage in tabulatingdirection regardless of the distance through which the carriage movesbefore encountering a tab stop.

A universal stop member displacing or unsetting lever 33 pivoted on aframe mounted stud for movement into the plane of the drawing as viewedin FIGURE 1 is adapted to be rotated counterclockwise by a link 34operable, for example, by a universal bail arm as disclosed in PatentNo. 3,018,870 which is actuated in response to depression of any key onthe typewriter keyboard with the exception of the tab, carriage return,shift and backspace keys. The universal stop member displacing orunsetting lever 33 has an arcuate shaped extremity which extends, in theembodiment shown, over the four stop members immediately preceding thenormally stationary stop 13. As shown in FIGURE 2, the portion 33'overlying the two stop members 12 immediately preceding the stationarystop 13 is relatively wider than the terminal portion such that it willalways displace or unset two stop members to unset position. As shown inFIGURE 1 a three unit and a four unit interposer 35 and 36 respectivelyare mounted in a frame supported assembly generally designated byreference numeral 37 for movement toward the axis of wheel 10. Theinterposers are adapted to move under the terminal arcuate portion ofand between the universal stop member displacing or unsetting lever 33and the wheel. They are also adapted for movement toward the plane ofthe wheel whereby if the three unit interposer 35 is under the lever 33,three stop members will be unset or, when both interposers are under thelever 33, four stop members will be unset. Accordingly, depending onwhether no interposer, one or two interposers are selected apredetermined number of stop members 12 i.e., 2, 3 or 4 will be unset.The interposers, which are normally biased away from the escapementwheel, as will appear with reference to FIGURES 7 and 8, are adapted tobe selectively driven by associated push levers 38 and 39 respectively.The four unit interposer has a lateral projection 41 (FIGURE 6) whichcooperates with a lateral projection 42 on the three unit interposer 35whereby when the four unit interposer is pushed it carries with it thethree unit interposer. As shown in FIGURE 1 the push levers are pivotedon a frame supported stud 43 and generally have the form of an invertedY, having as viewed in FIGURE 1, upwardly leftwardly canted common legportions whose end-s are offset forming ears 45 adapted to engage andpush their respective three and four unit interposers. The push levers38 and 39 are adapted to be rotated clockwise either by means ofassociated push wires 46 which are selectively operable by coded bailsas hereinafter noted, and which are adapted to engage and push thedownwardly extending legs 47 of the push levers, or alternatively bymeans of a stud 43 at the end of a selector lever 51 pivoted at 52 whichis operative on cam shoulders 53 and 54 respectively formed on the upperedges of the rightwardly extending legs 55 of the push levers 38 and 39.The stud 48 on lever 51 also overlies an arcuate shaped arm 56 on aby-pass lever 57 pivoted at 58 whereby when lever 51 is rotated from theposition shown in FIGURE 1 (proportional spacing position) to the two,three or four position, i.e., a 16 pitch position, an 11 pitch position,or an 8 pitch position for example, the by-pass lever 57 is rotatedcounterclockwise whereby the push wires 46 which extend through grooves61 in the by-pass lever 57 are deflected downwardly and are no longereffective to operate push lever extensions 47 as is evident in FIGURES46.

Referring again to FIGURE 1 there are shown linkages for operating lever51 to any of the four positions shown; though it is to be understoodthat lever 51 may be fixedly secured to shaft 52 which in turn may berotated directly by an indicator wheel. As shown in FIG- URE 1 lever 51is formed with a crank arm 62 which is articulately connected to a link63 which extends upwardly and leftwardly (forwardly). The upper end oflink 63 is articulately connected to one end of a lever 64 which ispivoted between its ends on a frame supported stud 65. The other end ofthe lever 64- is spring biased toward the hub 66 of a selector wheel 67adapted to be turned by an operator to a position as required for theparticular type matrix or type basket then mounted in the machine. Thehub has several fiat surfaces 71, 72, 73, 74 perpendicular to radii ofand spaced from the axis, of the hub different distances. In theembodiment shown surface 71 corresponds to proportional spacing, 72 to16 pitch, 73 to 11 pitch and 74 to 8 pitch. Hench as wheel 67 is turnedthe lever 64 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise depending on theradial distance of the flat from the axis of the selector wheel.

As will be understood by those conversant with the typewriter art, aproportional spacing machine is one in which type characters in a fontof type are characterized by different widths. In such machines anescapement is.

provided to effect carriage movements proportional to the width of eachcharacter typed. Some proportional escap ment machines employ a font oftype having up to five different widths of type necessitating a fiveunit proportional escapement i.e. an escapement which will effect one,two, three, four or five increments of movement depending on thecharacter being typed.

The escapement illustrated, as will hereinafter be apparent, can beemployed with any one of four fonts of type; a proportional type fonthaving two, three and four unit width type and uniform fonts having twounit, three unit, or four unit width type. Hence with a proportionalfont and with the selector wheel 67 set for proportional spacing, theescapement will selectively, in accordance with the character type,escape two, three or four increments. Depending on whether a uniformfont having two, three, or four unit width type is mounted in themachine, the escapement will be set to uniformly escape two, three, orfour increments. While an escapement capable of accommodating fonts oftype having one of three or up to three unit widths of type is hereinillustrated it is to be understood that fonts having four or five or upto four and five unit widths of type may be accommodated. For example,fonts having one of or up to four widths of type may be accommodated inan escapement capable of escaping two, three, four, and five incrementssuch as disclosed in Patent No. 3,018,870 by modifying the universallever 33 such that it overlies five stop members and providing anadditional five unit interposer structure. Similarly, fonts having oneof or up to five widths of type may be accommodated in an escapementcapable of escaping one, two, three, four or five increments bymodifying the universal lever 33 such that it overlies five stop membersand by modifying it such that the portion 33' will only unset one stopmember. Obviously if the lever is so modified two additional interposersand operating structure would be required to effect unsetting of the twoand five unit stop members.

Obviously the lever 33 may be formed without a portion 33' whereby itwill not normally unset a predetermined number of serially positionedstop members. Such a modification would require additional interposersand operating structure therefore.

In a machine provided with the two, three, or four increment escapementillustrated, all of the key initiated actions with the exception ofcarriage return, backspace, tab and shift will operate the universallever 33 through link 34. All actions associated with keys assigned tocharacters having three unit width, will, in a manner similar to thatdisclosed in Patent No. 3,018,870, as hereinbefore noted, operate acommon three unit permutation or space code bail or slide (not shown)which will operate the three unit push wire 46, and all actionsassociated with keys assigned to characters having four unit width willoperate a common four unit space code bail which will operate the fourunit push wire 46. Those keys assigned to characters having two unitwidths will not be associated with a space code bail.

When the wheel 67 and lever 51 are in the position illustrated in FIGURE1, i.e. the proportional spacing position (it being understood that thetype on type bars or the type on a matrix will have weightedcharacters), and a key is depressed an associated action is initiated,i.e., a corresponding type bar will be operated in the manner of PatentNo. 3,018,870, or character code bails or slides will be selectivelyactuated and be operative on the positioning mechanism to effect thepositioning of a matrix to present the corresponding type thereon to aprinting position to effect printing. The depression of a key will alsoactuate no, one, or both permutation or space code bails and effectmovement of an associated push wire 46 as described above.

Operation Assuming a type font having characters of two, three and fourunit widths is in the machine, the selector wheel is in the proportionalspacing position, and a key corresponding to a two unit character isdepressed, the universal lever 33 will be operated thereby pushing thetwo stop member 12 immediately preceding the stationary stop 13 therebypermitting the wheel 10 to move two increments after the character hasprinted. When a key corresponding to a three unit character is depressedthe three unit push wire 46 will be actuated thereby rotating push lever38 clockwise. This action will interpose the three unit interposer 35 sothat the universal lever 33 will depress the end of the three unitinterposer 35 toward the plane of wheel 10 thereby unsetting three stopmembers to permit the wheel 10 to move three increments after printingthe selected three unit character. Similarly, if a key corresponding toa four unit character is depressed, a four unit space bail and itsassociated push wire 46 will be operated, thereby rotating push lever 39clockwise which will push the four unit interposer 36 which ashereinbefore stated carries the three unit interposer 35. With bothinterposers operated the operation of the universal lever 33 will unsetfour stop members permitting four increments of movement following theprinting of the selected four unit character.

Assuming the type matrix 17 has been changed and now carries, forexample, 16 pitch characters or that type on type bars are all 16 pitch,the wheel 67 will be turned counterclockwise to the position designatedII, thereby through levers 64 and 51 changing the position of bypasslever 57 to that shown in FIGURE 4. The counterclockwise movement of theby-pass lever to the FIGURE 4 position disables the push wires 46 bydeflecting them downwardly. In the position shown in FIGURE 4, it willbe noted that push levers 38 and 39 remain in normal inactive (FIGURE 1)position and since the push wires are disabled they will have no effecton the three or four unit interposers. Hence the depression of any keywill only operate the universal lever 33 which will unset only the twostop members preceding the stationary stop 13 each time a key isoperated thereby effecting two increments of motion of wheel 10.

As shown in FIGURE 5, assuming the matrix 17 has been changed or thetype on type bars have been changed to 11 pitch type, counterclockwisemovement of wheel 67 to the position designated III, and consequentmovement of lever 51 will, through cam edge 53, operate the three unitpush lever 38 whereby the three unit interposer 35 is operated andmaintained operated by the three unit push lever 38 as will behereinafter apparent. Hence depression of any key will always effect theunsetting of three of the stop members 12 each time a key is operatedeffecting three units of motion. Similarly, movement of lever 51 to theposition shown in FIGURE 6, as a result of wheel 67 being rotated to theposition designated IV, will, through cam edge 54 operate the four unitpush lever 39 and associated interposer 36 which carries the three unitinterposer 35 whereby depression of any key will always effect a fourincrement escapement each time a key .is depressed.

Unset stop members after moving beyond the stationary stop are returnedto set positions by a reset cam 75 supported on the machine frame andlocated behind the wheel in the path of unset stop members.

The assembly 37 which mounts the interposers 35 and 36 is shown inFIGURES 7 and 8 to which reference is now made. The assembly comprises abox-like structure wherein the interposers are mounted for movementtoward the axis of the escapement wheel by the push levers 38 and 39 ashereinbefore noted. The interposers are adapted to be returned bysprings 77 connected to studs 78 on the interposers and to the framestructure. As shown in FIGURE '7 the top plate 79 of the box-likestructure is provided with cutouts 81 to permit movement of theinterposers toward the plane of wheel 10 under the action of theuniversal lever 33. Also as shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8, a pair ofinterposer lat-eh leaf springs 82 are secured to the frame wall. Theupper free ends 83 of the springs are bent toward and bear against thelateral projections 84 formed on the interposers so that when aninterposer is raised by its associated push lever the ends 83 of thesprings snap beneath the projections 84 and maintain the interposerslatched in the active position shown in FIGURE 8 until the universallever 33 is operative. When the interposers are moved toward the planeof the wheel 10 by the lever 33 they are rocked out of the influence ofthe spring latches 82 whereby they may be withdrawn by their returnsprings 77. A second leaf spring assembly 85 acts on the opposite sidesof the interposers to cushion the lateral movement and to return theinterposers to an active position. When the lever is set in #3 or #4position it will be noted that the interposers cannot return to inactiveposition as the push levers 38 and/ or 39 prevent this so that after thelever 33 has moved the interposers toward the plane of the wheel toeffect stop member displacement, the interposers can only rock back tolatched active condition under the action of springs 85 and 77.

As will be apparent from the above, applicant has provided a typewritingmachine which in effect is four machines in one, i.e., simply changing atype matrix 17 or a type bar basket, and selecting a position of lever51 via wheel 67 corresponding to the pitch of the characters on thematrix, converts the machine to one having the proper pitch.

While the structural embodiment of the invention has reference to aspecific type of proportional escapement mechanism, it is to beundelstood that it may be embodied in any proportional escapementmechanism whether of the type broadly exemplified by US. Patent No.2,202,565 or of the type broadly exemplified by US. Pat ent No.2,547,449 or hybrids thereof. This statement follows from the fact thatall proportional spacing machines are of necessity provided with keycontrolled permutation bails or slides which are operative to selectcorresponding to the push wires 46 disclosed herein, a predetermined oneof a series of stop members or a selected one of a series of interposerswhich are operative in turn in association with a pawl or pawls tomeasure out a distance corresponding to the width of the characterassigned to the key depressed.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only apreferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to coverall changes and modifications of the example of the invention hereinchosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitutedepartures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably mount uniform and variablewidth type fonts, said typewriter having a normally arrested escapementmember yieldably urged in letter feed direction,

mechanism movable to release said escapement member after a characterhas been typed,

settable means movable into the path of movement of and thereafteroperative in combination with said mechanism to determine the extent ofmovement of said escapement member,

first means for selectively moving said settable means in accordancewith the widths of characters in a variable width type font selected fortyping; the improvement comprising alternatively manually operativemeans to preselectively move said settable means whereby the release ofsaid escapement thereafter will effect movement over uniform distancescorresponding to the width of type in a uniform width type font,

2. In a proportional spacing typewriter having a normally arrestedescapement member normally yieldably urged in one direction and adaptedto be released to permit letter space movement in said one direction,

control means associated with said escapement member and movable inresponse to each character selection to effect the release of saidescapement member,

selectively settable means operative by said control means when movedinto the path of movement thereof to determine the extent of letterspace movement,

and means for selecting and moving said settable means in accordancewith the width of a character selected; the improvement comprisingalternative manually operable means for disabling said means forselecting and moving said settable means and for preselecting and movingsaid settable means to provide for uinform escapement thereafter.

3. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably operatively mount uniformand variable width character type fonts, an escapement mechanismcomprising a wheel yieldably rotatably urged in one direction,

a plurality of stop members mounted in an annular array about the axisof said wheel and axially movable relative thereto between set and unsetpositions,

a normally stationary stop positioned in the path of set stop members toprevent rotation of said wheel,

universally operable stop member unsetting means for moving apredetermined number of serially positioned stop members immediatelypreceding said stationary stop to unset positions,

a plurality of interposer means selectively positionable in the path ofand operable by said universally operable means to selectively move aselected number of succeeding stop members beyond said predeterminednumber of serially positioned stop members,

selectively operable means for selectively positioning said interposermeans when a variable width type font is operatively mounted and inaccordance with the width of characters typed,

and alternatively operable means positionable to disable saidselectively operable means when a uniform width type font is operativelymounted.

4. An escapement mechanism as recited in claim 3, further comprisingmeans normally adapted to retract said selectively positoned interposermeans after an escapement, said alternatively operable means beingfurther positionable to preposition selected interposer means and beingoperable when so positioned to prevent retraction of said selectedinterposer means.

5. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably mount uniform unit andvariable unit width character type fonts, a frame,

a carriage,

drive means yieldably urging advance of said carriage relative to saidframe,

mechanism for releasing said carriage after a character has been typedand for stopping said carriage after it has travelled a distancecorresponding to the width of the character typed, said mechanismcomprising: a disc operatively connected to said drive means,

a plurality of normally set stop members mounted in an annular arrayabout the axis of said disc and axially movable relative thereto betweenset and unset positons, said stop members being spaced at arcuateintervals corresponding to character units,

a stationary stop mounted on said frame and disposed in the path of setstop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by said drivemeans,

stop member unsetting means responsive to each character selection,

and selectively positionable interposer means for determining the numberof stop members to be unset by said stop member unsetting means;

means selectively operable in accordance with selected character widthsadapted when a variable width type font is operatively mounted in saidtypewriter to selectively position said interposer means;

and manually settable means operative when a uniform width type font isoperatively mounted in said typewriter for disabling said selectivelyoperable means and for positoning a selected number of said interposermeans in accordance with the width of the characters on said uniformwidth font.

6. In a typewriter adapted to accommodate uniform and variable widthcharacter type fonts, a frame,

a carriage,

drive means yieldably urging advance of said carriage relative to saidframe,

mechanism for releasing said carriage after a character has been typedand for stopping said carriage after it has travelled a distancecorresponding to the width of the character typed, said mechanismcomprising: a disc operatively connected to said drive means,

a plurality of serially positioned normally set stop members mounted inan annular array about the axis of said disc and axially movablerelative thereto between set and unset positons, said stop members beingspaced at arcuate intervals corresponding to character width units,

a stationary stop mounted on said frame and disposed in the path of setstop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by said drivemeans,

stop member unsetting means operative in response to every characterselection for moving a predetermined number of said serially positionedstop members immediately preceding said stationary stop,

and a plurality of interposer means adapted when positioned in theoperative path of said stop member unsetting means to effect theunsetting of additional stop members;

means for selectively positoning said interposer means in accordancewith the widths of characters typed from a variable width type font;

and alternatively operable means for prepositioning and for maintainingpositioned selected ones of said interposers whereby a fixed number ofstop members beyond said predetermined number of serially positionedstop members as determined by positoned interposers will be unset inaccordance with the width of type in a uniform width type font.

7. In a typewriter having a frame,

a carriage,

drive means yieldably urging advance of said carriage relative to saidframe,

mechanism for releasing said carriage after a character has been typedand for stopping said carriage after it has travelled a distancecorresponding to the width of the character typed, said mechanismcomprising: a disc operatively connected to said drive means,

a plurality of normally se-t stop members mounted in an annular arrayabout the axis of said disc and axially movable relative thereto betweenset and unset positions, said stop members being spaced at arcuateintervals corresponding to character width units,

a stationary stop mounted on said frame and disposed in the path of setstop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by said drivemeans,

stop member unsetting means operative in response to every characterselection adapted to unset stop members preceding said stationary stop,

and a plurality of interposer means mounted for movement into the pathof said stop member unsetting means and for movement thereby to effectthe unsetting of a selected number of serially positioned stop members;

actuator means positionable to move said interposer means into the pathof said stop member unsetting means in accordance with the widths ofcharacters typed from a variable width type font;

and alternatively operable means selectively operative on and tomaintain said actuator means positioned in accordance with the width oftype in a uniform width type font.

8. In a typewriter adapted to mount uniform and variable width charactertype fonts,

a frame,

a carriage,

drive means yieldably urging advance of said carriage relative to saidframe,

mechanism for releasing said carriage after a character has been typedand for stopping said carriage after it has travelled a distancecorresponding to the width of the character typed, said mechanismcomprising: a disc operatively connected to said drive means,

a plurality of normally set stop members mounted in an annular arrayabout the axis of said disc and axially movable relative thereto betweenset and unset positions, said stop members being spaced at arcuateintervals corresponding to character width units,

a stationary stop mounted on said frame and disposed in the path of setstop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by said drivemeans,

stop member unsetting means operatively overlying a predetermined numberof serially positioned stop members immediately preceding saidstationary stop and operative in response to every character selection,

and a plurality of interposers mounted for movement into the path of andfor movement by said stop member unsetting means thereby to unset aselected number of said serially positioned stop members;

actuating means for positioning said interposer means in the path ofsaid stop member unsetting means;

means for selectively operating said actuating means in accordance withselected character widths when a type font having variable widthcharacters is mounted in said machine;

and alternatively operable means for operating selected ones of saidactuating means and for simultaneously disabling said means forselectively operating said actuating means when a type font havinguniform width characters is mounted in said machine.

9. A machine as recited in claim 8 wherein said alternatively operablemeans is operative to maintain selected actuating means operative,whereby additional stop members beyond said predetermined number ofserially positioned stop members are unset when a type font havinguniform characters corresponding in Width to said predetermined and saidadditional number of serially positioned stop members is mounted in saidtypewriter.

10. In a machine of the class described,

a frame,

a carriage mounted for movement relative to said frame,

means for yieldably driving said carriage in at least one direction, andmeans for controlling the extent of carriage movement by said drivemeans comprising: a disc rotatably mounted on said frame and operativelycoupled to said drive means,

a plurality of normally set stop members mounted in an annular arrayabout the axis of said disc and adapted for axial movement relative tosaid disc to set and unset positions,

a normally stationary stop mounted on said frame and located in the pathof set stop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by saiddrive means,

universal stop member unsetting means for moving stop members precedingsaid stationary stop to unset positions,

and interposer means positionable in the path of said member unsettingmeans for determining the number of stop members to be unset by saiduniversal stop member unsetting means;

actuator means for positioning said interposer means;

means for selectively operating said actuator means in accordance withselected character widths;

and alternatively operable means for operating preselected ones of saidactuator means and for disabling said means for selectively operatingsaid actuator means.

11. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably mount uniform andvariable width type fonts, said typewriter having a normally arrestedescapement member yieldably urged in letter feed direction, arrestingelements selectively movable to release said escapement member,

mechanism movable toward said elements in response to each characterselection,

selectively set-table interposer means operative by said mechanism whenmoved into the path thereof to move selected arresting elements thusdetermining the extent of letter space movement,

and means for moving selected interposer means in accordance with theWidths of characters in a proportional width type font selected fortyping;

the improvement comprising alternative manually operable means fordisabling said last named means and for preselecting and moving saidsettable interposer means to provide for uniform letter space movementthereafter corresponding to the width of type in a uniform width typefont.

12. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably mount uniform andvariable width type fonts, said typewriter having a normally arrestedescapement member yieldably urged in letter feed direction,

mechanism movable to release said escapement member after a characterhas been typed,

settable means movable in the path of movement and thereafter operativein combination with said mechanism to determine the extent of movementof said escapement member,

first means for selectively moving said settable means in accordancewith the widths of characters in a variable width type font selected fortyping;

the improvement comprising alternatively manually operative meansincluding a single operator manipulatable element to preselectively movesaid settable means whereby the release of said escapement thereafterwill effect movement over uniform distances corresponding to the widthof type in a uniform width type font. 13. In a proportional spacingtypewriter having a normally arrested escapement member normallyyieldably urged in one direction and adapted to be released to permitletter space movement in said one direction,

control means associated with said escapement memher and movable inresponse to each character selection to effect the release of saidescapement member,

selectively settable means operative by said control means when movedinto the path of movement thereof to determine the extent of letterspace movement,

and means for selecting and moving said settable means in accordancewith the width of a character selected;

the improvement comprising alternative manually operable means includinga single operator manipulatable element for disabling said means forselecting and moving said settable means and for preselecting and movingsaid settable means to provide for uniform escapement thereafter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,186 11/1918Miller 197-84.3 1,305,536 6/1919 Grotjoann 197-66 X 1,431,983 10/1922Roberts 197-41 2,202,565 5/1940 Reid 197-84.3 2,236,608 4/1941 Pitman197-66 X 2,390,413 12/1945 Ayres 197-84.1 X 2,411,723 11/1946 'Hausman197-90 X 2,439,470 4/1948 Jackson 197-90 X 2,547,449 4/1951 Dodge197-84.3 2,701,632 2/1955 Zint 197-84 2,720,960 10/1955 Anderson 197-662,902,133 9/1959 Walton et al. 197-66 2,909,935 10/1959 Dodge 197-66 X3,018,870 1/1962 Lambert et al. 197-843 3,045,798 7/1962 Lambert et al.197-84.3

OTHER REFERENCES Websters Third New International Dictionary of TheEnglish Language, Unabridged, G. & C. Merriam Cornpany, 1961, page 2077.PE 1625, 161, 1961, C. 7.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

ERNEST T. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A TYPEWRITER ADAPTED TO INTERCHANGEABLY MOUNT UNIFORM AND VARIABLEWIDTH TYPE FONTS, SAID TYPEWRITER HAVING A NORMALLY ARRESTED ESCAPEMENTMEMBER YIELDABLY URGED IN LETTER FEED DIRECTION, MECHANISM MOVABLE TORELEASE SAID ESCAPEMENT MEMBER AFTER A CHARACTER HAS BEEN TYPED,SETTABLE MEANS MOVABLE INTO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF AND THEREAFTEROPERATIVE IN COMBINATION WITH SAID MECHANISM TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OFMOVEMENT OF SAID ESCAPEMENT MEMBER, FIRST MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY MOVINGSAID SETTABLE MEANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WIDTHS OF CHARACTERS IN AVARIABLE WIDTH TYPE FONT SELECTED FOR TYPING; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISINGALTERNATIVELY MANUALLY OPERATIVE MEANS TO PRESELECTIVELY MOVE SAIDSETTABLE MEANS WHEREBY THE RELEASE OF SAID ESCAPEMENT THEREAFTER WILLEFFECT MOVEMENT OVER UNIFORM DISTANCES CORRESPONDING TO THE WIDTH OFTYPE IN A UNIFORM WIDTH TYPE FONT.